From September 26 to October 3, 2027, Berlin will host an international gathering for people committed to peace, nonviolence, and a more humane world. The World Conference on Active Nonviolence aims to bring together organizations, movements, initiatives, and individuals dedicated to overcoming violence in all its forms. Preparations have begun—now everyone is invited to get involved and help shape this extraordinary project.
We live in a time when wars are increasingly accepted as a political tool, states are investing billions in military buildup, and violence-oriented ways of thinking dominate public discourse. Human rights are being violated, international agreements are being disregarded, and social conflicts are intensifying. The notion that security can be achieved primarily through military strength is gaining ground.
Yet around the world, there are people who oppose this trend. They defend human rights, engage in nonviolent resistance against oppression, advocate for social justice, and seek peaceful solutions to conflicts. Many work under difficult conditions and with little public attention.
What would be possible if these people and movements were to network more closely, share their experiences, and act together? This line of thinking gave rise to the idea for a 2027 World Meeting for Active Nonviolence in Berlin.
A united stand for overcoming violence
From September 26 to October 3, 2027, Berlin is set to become a gathering place for the international peace and nonviolence movement for one week. Decentralized events are planned in various districts, including discussions, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, film screenings, and cultural activities. At the end of the week, the events will converge at a central location. The week will conclude with a large public rally.
October 2—the International Day of Nonviolence and Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday—has been deliberately scheduled to fall within this week.
The World Meeting is intended to be more than just an international conference. People from diverse fields—ranging from local initiatives to academia, politics, and spirituality, all the way to art and culture—will work together toward a central goal: overcoming violence in all its forms.
For violence manifests itself not only in wars and armed conflicts, but also in economic exploitation, discrimination, racism, and social exclusion.
Active nonviolence therefore means more than the absence of war. It combines personal transformation with concrete social action: refusing to accept injustice, resolving conflicts without dehumanizing others, and striving for change without violence. The experiences of movements led by Gandhi and Martin Luther King, as well as other nonviolent initiatives, show that people can bring about political and social change even without weapons.
An idea that unites people on every continent
The initiative stems from a collaboration between the International Peace Bureau (IPB) and the international news agency Pressenza. The two organizations have a long-standing partnership, including their joint organization of the 2016 Peace Congress at the Technical University of Berlin.
The project has since grown far beyond these two organizations. Since February 2026, the idea has been presented and discussed internationally. According to the initiative group, people and groups in more than 50 countries have already been reached. Around 70 organizations, groups, and institutions from every continent have pledged their support and announced their participation.
The response demonstrates the great need for connection, collaboration, and a shared vision.
The World Meeting is explicitly not intended to be a project controlled by a single organization. Rather, people, movements, and institutions with diverse experiences and approaches are to collaborate on an equal footing. Preparations are taking place through dialogue and are fueled by a wide range of ideas and practical experiences.
Berlin2027 needs you!
For this idea to become a vibrant and diverse World Meeting, we need people to get involved—by sharing their own experiences, contacts, events, ideas, or practical support.
This call is directed at everyone who is committed to a more peaceful and just world: individuals, organizations, peace movements, human rights initiatives, educational and cultural institutions, labor unions, social movements, and local groups.
Mark your calendars now for the week of September 26 through October 3, 2027 and think about how you can get involved—for example, by organizing a workshop, a discussion, a cultural event, or a project on nonviolent action. We also welcome help in facilitating international connections, providing organizational support, and spreading the word about this initiative within your networks.
Even if you don’t belong to an organization, you can still participate. Every initiative begins with people who are willing to bring about change.
Sign the joint call
A first concrete step is to sign the international call for the World Meeting. By doing so, you support the belief that war and violence are not inevitable parts of human coexistence and that active nonviolence can be an effective response to the challenges of our time.
The call can be signed by individuals as well as by organizations, networks, and initiatives:
- As an individual: https://www.non-violence.org/Berlin2027/de/als-einzelperson-unterzeichnen/
- As an organization: https://www.non-violence.org/Berlin2027/de/als-organisation-unterzeichnen/
Anyone who would like to actively participate in the preparations can contact the organizing team via info@non-violence.org.
Together, we can make a difference
The World Meeting thrives on the commitment of the people and organizations who contribute their time, experience, and skills. Additional financial resources are needed for event venues, infrastructure, and operations. Donation options can be found on the Berlin 2027 website.
The goal is ambitious: people from as many countries as possible should come together in Berlin, encourage one another, and return to their cities, communities, and organizations with new ideas and collective strength.
We cannot end wars and violence overnight. But we can refuse to accept them as inevitable and show that there are other ways to resolve conflicts and shape how we live together.
The future is not predetermined. It is shaped by what we do today. The more people choose nonviolence and act together, the greater our power to change that future.
